My feet stayed warm until an hour before leaving when snow was two and half, maybe three feet deep. I had forgotten my gaiters, so snow in my boots. Hands stayed dry and warm until an hour before leaving, when I had to water everyone.
Fully
equipped with new winter barn jacket from Hancock free exchange,
umbrella, back pack of extra gear for the day. Brought snack and tea for
a brief "lunch". My girls all set up at home. A long day for them.
Arrived a little late, and started to feed the farm (LOTS of animals -dogs, goats, pigs, mini horses, big horses, zebus (small
cows), and chickens). Snow was coming down hard, wind blowing, snow
drifting, feeders filling up faster than I could fill them. Lots of
lugging of water buckets - through the snow, winds, blizzard - heaters were breaking.
Then the animal shifting began.
Assisted
with the move inside of 8 donkey's, two zebu yearling bulls (zebu is a
small cow, look like cows in India), and rescued two oberhaslie goats
(Ruth and I had to air lift them up over the gate, it was frozen shut).
One was weak, and needed to be carried. In between mucked five stalls
that hadn't been done in a week - so a lot of heavy shit. Been having
trouble with the manure trailer, and lack of other muckers, so it's just
me and sometimes one other person. Liz (farm owner) was a mucking beast
today. Animals shifted to other barn, so stalls emptied, and mucked for
next occupant. To dump muck a full wheel barrel is hauled up a ramp -
covered in snow - in blistering wind, and drifting snow. Oh, forgot the
part where barn doors kept getting stuck and not closing, so snow was
piling up inside. An exhausting fight with huge sliding barn doors,
which got stickier and heavier as day progressed. "Mareee" I would here
Ruth call.
Animal
relocation event over, Liz and Frank, went back into their house. Ruth
and I still had to feed. In four feet of snow, we trudged on dragging
our feet as though walking against a current of deep rushing water. The
rushing water being wind. Wind picked up, white out conditions, snow
still coming down, it was 2:30 PM when we started feeding, finished and
headed for home by 4 PM. Where I was greeting by jubilant happy girls.
Took them for a short walk, showered, started fire, fed girls, got
dinner, DONE!
Oh
- forgot the part where I walked early this morning the two miles (down
hill in a snow storm - it was just starting) to get into work. Got a
ride home 8 hours later. Roads weren't plowed, winds gusting a gail, so
visibility poor. We made it, and Ruth made it home safe.
